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The Philadelphia Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society Established in 1936

Railfan Pictures of the Day - 12/17/2005

Reading West Trenton Line Neshaminy Falls PA 1960's and 1970's.

During a recent trip to Neshaminy Falls Station, a few workers were seen looking over the right of way and taking pictures. When asked, one responded that CSX was thinking about putting back the double track from CP Nesh to a switch connecting the CSX Trenton Line with the SEPTA Neshaminy Line Track 2, a configuration that existed in Reading days into the Conrail era until Conrail removed it in the mid-1980's. Frank Powell dug up a number of slides of the station and surrounding area from his collection, some taken by him and some taken by others including Charles Houser. The photographs are from the 1960's on.

Looking north from Neshaminy Falls station as a pair of Reading Blueliners pass on Track 2. This picture was taken after the westernmost track, which occupied the ballasted area to the left within the catenary supports, was removed (as seen in earlier pictures below).

Another pair of MU's approaching the inbound platform.

A trio of MU's with the inbound station to the left and the outbound platform to the right. The New York Short Line (aka CSX Trenton Line) merges with the Neshaminy Line in the distance, just north of the outbound platform. The Houser Collection.

The inbound station. Recently SEPTA has removed both the block tower that remained at Neshaminy Falls on the inbound side, as well as the elevated steel handicapped platform, replacing it with one made of poured concrete. The Houser Collection.

A CNJ Trainmaster heading for Reading Terminal via Jenkintown instead of the NY Short Line, which diverges to the right. A trip down the NYSL would bypass Jenkintown, with the train making its next stop at Wayne Junction. CNJ and B&O trains both ran on the Reading to Wayne, with B&O trains using the Blue Line Connection to continue on via Belmont and Park Junction and the B&O trackage there. CNJ trains continued under wires and ran directly into Reading Terminal. The tower can also be seen on the right, past the outbound platform. Also notice the standard Reading Company station platform light to the right, some of which can still be found around the SEPTA system, including in Lansdale.

Further south of the station, looking north. The Neshaminy Line in this area is now two tracks wide, the westernmost (left in the picture) having been removed. North of Neshaminy Falls, the NY Short Line track also was electrified, so there were once four electrified tracks from Neshaminy Falls to at least Woodbourne Station (SEPTA removed the remaining catenary on the former NY Short Line/CSX Trenton Line just this fall).

Reading FP7A 905 approaches the station with two head end cars and two passenger cars on an outbound train.

A picture taken just north of the station shows all four tracks as a freight powered by F7A 265 and a F7B unit passes on what is now Track 2 of the Neshaminy Line.

A photograph from Dick Bregler shows a Jersey City-bound Crusader approaching Neshaminy Junction in 1948 or 1949.

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Website created June 12, 2002

Last Updated December 17, 2005